Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, has made headlines once again—this time for declaring that illegally entering the United States is “not a crime” despite federal law stating otherwise. In an appearance on MSNBC’s The Katie Phang Show, Crockett dismissed concerns about illegal immigration, insisting that it is merely a “civil violation” and not a criminal act.
The claim is, at best, misleading. Under 8 USC 1325, improper entry into the U.S. is classified as a federal misdemeanor crime, punishable by fines and up to six months in jail for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders can face up to two years behind bars. Further, under 8 USC 1326, illegal reentry following deportation—especially after a felony conviction—can lead to prison sentences of up to 20 years.
Yet, Crockett repeated her claim multiple times, arguing that Republicans were misleading the public about immigration law.
“They continue to say things like ‘the illegals’ and that they broke the law coming in,” Crockett said. “But what they’re not telling the American people is that it is a civil violation. It is not a criminal violation to enter the country illegally. It’s not. It’s not criminal. It’s not a crime. It’s not a crime.”
This talking point is not new—it’s been used before to blur the legal distinctions between different forms of immigration violations. Overstaying a visa is indeed a civil violation, but crossing the border illegally is a criminal act under federal law. Crockett’s argument deliberately ignores this fact, feeding into the broader push by some on the left to weaken immigration enforcement.
But she didn’t stop there. Crockett took the opportunity to shift the focus back to her favorite target—Donald Trump. She called Republican concerns about illegal immigration “fake outrage” and accused them of hypocrisy, saying, “Don’t give me this fake outrage about criminals roaming our streets when you guys stand 10 toes down for the biggest criminal that we have ever seen go into the White House.”
This isn’t the first time Crockett has gone all-in on anti-Trump rhetoric. Just last week, she went so far as to call him an “enemy” of the United States. She has made it clear that attacking Trump—rather than addressing the actual concerns of Americans—will be a defining theme of her time in Congress.
Her remarks come at a time when illegal border crossings are at record highs, with millions of migrants entering the country under the Biden administration’s lax immigration policies. Cities across the country, from New York to Chicago to Denver, are struggling under the weight of the crisis, as overwhelmed shelters, strained public services, and rising crime rates leave local leaders desperate for federal action.
Yet, rather than confronting the reality of the situation, Crockett and others continue to insist that there is no real problem—or worse, that those calling for enforcement are simply engaging in fearmongering. But as crime rises in sanctuary cities and major Democratic-run metros struggle with the financial burden of housing, feeding, and supporting waves of undocumented migrants, it’s becoming clear that the American people aren’t buying these excuses.
